Bubble teams can’t avoid “bubble mania”

Florida, Ole Miss and Mississippi State came to the SEC Tournament on the proverbial NCAA Tournament bubble.

As of Saturday, only the Bulldogs remain with a chance to improve their odds for a bid. They face Vanderbilt in the semifinals.

At this stage of the game, a quality opponent like the Commodores is exactly what State needs since it’s desparately seeking quality wins. Florida and Ole Miss are left to stand on their merits. That likely means the Rebels are out and the Gators are on the fence.

As much as bubble teams would like to ignore their situations and just play, Kentucky senior Perry Stevenson said you can’t help but be reminded of it. Bubble talk is everywhere. Every time you turn on the TV.

The Wildcats were a bubble team last year that didn’t make the field.

“Besides cartoons, ESPN is all I watch,” Stevenson said. “You see first four teams in, first four teams out, teams on the bubble, their bubble’s burst … I’m just glad we’re not in that position (this year).”

About The Author

Jeff Lockridge

I have been on the Vanderbilt beat since 2009, at The Tennessean since 2000 and a sports journalist since 1997. Prior to Vanderbilt, I covered primarily high schools from 2000-09. My reporting history also includes stints covering the Titans, Auburn and minor league baseball. I'm a Nashville native and a graduate of Overton High (1993) and Austin Peay (1997). I live in Fr